Oftentimes, taxidermy involves preserving actual bodies and constructing replicated parts for the things that can’t be preserved. Have you ever wondered how taxidermy fish come to life? During this blog, we are going to walk you through the tools and techniques it takes to preserve your favorite fishing trip memory forever.

In fish taxidermy, scales are replicated either through the use of molds or by painting them on. Molds are used to create a scale texture on a fiberglass or resin replica, while painting involves recreating the individual scale patterns, colors, and shimmer. This requires great attention to detail as well as an artistic touch.

There are multiple tools used for mold-based replication, two of them being scale rollers and silicone scale molds. Scale rollers are, as you can guess, tools that roll on scale patterns onto molding compounds. They help provide extra details for a realistic look. Silicone scale molds are created to produce scale patterns, which are then applied to the molding compound.

Another method of creating realistic fish taxidermy is using a skin mold. In some cases, molds of the fish head and/or fins are created, and then replicas are made from fiberglass or resin. The replicated fish skin can then be placed over a carved foam mold and allowed to dry, creating a lookalike fish.

While fish taxidermy is quite a different process from other taxidermy practices, it requires the same amount of time, skill, and dedication. It’s an art form not just anybody can jump into without proper practice. If you are looking for professional taxidermy services, contact us at Tim Knight’s Taxidermy today!